The combination of FlexoLaser imaging systems and digital nyloflex® printing plates addresses the special needs of flexographers' prepress departments, co. says. Nyloflex plates are said to provide excellent print quality in solids, line and halftone for all flexographic-print applications and are available in a wide range of formulas and thicknesses.

ANDERSON & VREELAND, INC. , 866/282-7697, fax: 800/223-6869, www.andersonvreeland.com

National Hirschfeld, a high-end offset printer whose jobs run the gamut from labels and packaging to brochures and catalogs, needed plates that matched the company's diverse and fast-paced environment. National decided to switch to the Kodak SWORD Excel thermal printing plates (www.kpgraphics.com).

"Plate remakes, caused by cracking and other performance issues we experienced with our previous plates have been virtually eliminated since we started using SWORD Excel plates," says Richard Stein, chief executive officer of the Denver-based company. "We get a lot of impressions out of SWORD Excel plates, and they print well. In addition, not having to bake plates saves time, frees up space and reduces our plate and energy costs."

By eliminating the preheat and postbake cycles, processing time is reduced, and prepress managers are able to use smaller processors, which consume less energy. These plates also deliver run lengths of up to 500,000 impressions and hard dots that yield resolutions ranging from 1 to 99 percent at 200 lpi. They are scratch resistant and UV- and EB-ink solvent compatible.

"In the competitive printing market, we need a plate that will do its job well," adds Stein. "The SWORD Excel plate is a product I can completely rely on, day in and day out. We deal with enough variables in printing; the less I need to worry about, the better."

NATIONAL HIRSCHFELD , 303/320-8500, fax: 303/329-3111, www.abhpress.com

KODAK POLYCHROME GRAPHICS , 800/293-4284, fax: 203/845-7173, www.kpgraphics.com

Co. introduces its new digital photopolymer plates for four-color processes. The digitally imaged plates reportedly reduce dot gain on press, allowing printers to hold a smaller dot, thus widening the range of tonal response and enabling smoother highlight blends, sharper line work and finer open reverses. These plates print noticeably cleaner and require fewer washings, co. says. Plate thicknesses range from .045 to .250 in. in varying durometers.

PLATECRAFTERS, INC., 800/673-7835, fax: 215/822-8875, www.platecrafters.com

Meeting the needs of flexible packaging, folding carton, tag and label, and multiwall sack printing, new Digital Rave photopolymer plates use advanced direct-to-plate technology, says co. The plates' laser ablation mask improves dot shape and extends image latitude while eliminating sources for dust and light diffusion, resulting in higher print quality and consistency. Digital Rave is said to provide longer runs, less dot wear and reduced tack. They are compatible with UV-, alcohol-, water- and glycol-based inks.

MACDERMID PRINTING SOLUTIONS , 800/348-7201, www.macdermid.com/printing

Developed specifically for the corrugated market, the new Cyrel® DPC soft digital plate provides high-quality results on any type of corrugated board using water-based inks, co. says. It can be used for corrugated post-print, sacks and rough paper surfaces. Features include high resistance to ozone and white light during storage, excellent thickness uniformity and an exposure latitude that allows single exposure without masking.

DUPONT PACKAGING GRAPHICS , 800/555-8167, fax; 302/999-3600, www.packaging-graphics.dupont.com